Judaism: A World of Stories
17 December 2011 until 15 April 2012

Exhibition in De Nieuwe Kerk

In the winter of 2011-2012, De Nieuwe
Kerk and the Jewish Historical Museum in Amsterdam will present an
exhibition about Judaism. This exhibition is curated by Edward van
Voolen, curator at the Jewish Historical Museum.

With more than five hundred objects on display, this exhibition
will tell the fascinating story of three thousand years of Jewish
religion, culture, art and history, the chronicle of a world
religion that takes diverse international forms but has always held
onto its identity. The exhibits will come from internationally
renowned museums and private collections, and most of them will be
on display in the Netherlands for the first time. The absolute
highlights will include a first-century Dead Sea Scroll from the
Israel Museum in Jerusalem (with reservation), the oldest complete
Torah scroll, originally from Erfurt and now at the
Staatsbibliothek in Berlin, valuable manuscripts, a painting by
Chagall from the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, and the Alefbet
Tapestry by the contemporary Russian-American artist Grisha
Bruskin. A publication of his work, Alefbet, Tapestry Project, is now
available in the Museum Shop.

Judaism is the most ancient monotheistic religion. Over the
ages, it has spread around the globe. Whenever Jews arrived in a
new place, they would integrate into society without giving up
their identity. Judaism therefore takes many different outward
forms, but the core of the religion is the same all over the
world.

Since the earliest days of Judaism, there have been Jewish
stories. Through the centuries, tales, parables, legends, and songs
helped to keep the tradition alive and in touch with the times.
Like any other religion, Judaism tries to answer questions about
life's origins, significance, and purpose. There is more than we
imagine in heaven and earth, but what, exactly? What secrets lie
hidden within Creation? What is the meaning of life?

The exhibition will shed light on the main elements of Judaism.
At the heart of the religion is the Book: the Tanakh or Hebrew
Bible, also known as the Old Testament. Text study is central to
Jewish religious life and forms the foundation of many stories,
holidays, and precepts. Other themes will include sacred sites, the
abstract God, days of celebration and commemoration, the life
cycle, daily life and history. The aim is to provide new insight
into the many facets of Judaism.

Each exhibit, whether a manuscript, a ceremonial object, a
painting, or a model, will be presented as a rare and precious
jewel. The message of the exhibition will be underlined by a
documentary and a series of filmed interviews with Jews around the
world - liberal and orthodox, famous and unknown - giving visitors
a vivid impression of the enormous diversity within Jewish
religious experience.

Judaism: A World of Stories is part of a series of
exhibitions at De Nieuwe Kerk on the cultural history of world
religions. While the Jewish Historical Museum focuses primarily on
Jewish culture, religion, and history in the Netherlands, De Nieuwe
Kerk will use this special exhibition to showcase Judaism's global
diversity, with the building as a spiritual site.